Job Interview Questions

Here is a list of some of the more challenging job interview questions you are likely to face.

Depending on where you live, some of the questions near the bottom of the page may not be politically correct or may in fact be in breach of local privacy laws, however that doesn't mean they won't be asked.

Have a think about how you would respond if some of these more difficult job interview questions were asked.

Job Interview Questions Relating to Your Past

What makes you think you will be happy if you go through a career change?

What would you say your greatest strengths and weaknesses are?

Of the bosses you have had in the past, which one did you like working for the least? Why?

Job Interview Questions Relating to Past Employment

Can you please provide me with names and contact details of your last three employers?

It is our company policy to have discussions with your last three employers in the form of reference checks. Are you happy with this and are you willing to sign an agreement for us to go ahead and do this?

[Some companies raise these reference check issues at the start of their job interview questions to encourage candidates to give honest and open answers about previous employment.
The purpose here is to let you know that they fully intend to drill previous employers about you.
They may also tell you that they value a candidate's ability to know what past employers thought about you.
They will emphasize that they are more interested in you telling them what previous employers would say about your work and how they would have perceived you, rather than what you thought was the reality of your work. What they are looking for here is for you to be very frank and honest in your comments, hopefully revealing more than you otherwise would.]

What would your previous employer say about the way you get along with work colleagues?

What would your previous employer say about the way you accept instructions and directives?

What would your previous employer say about the way you plan your work and meet dead lines?

Have you ever had any supervisory role? Tell me about this.

What problems did you have in this role and how did you overcome them?

How did you obtain your current job?

What do you like most about your current job?

What do you like least about your current job?

What are the main problems you face in your current position?

What would you say is your greatest contribution to your current job?

How much do you currently get paid?

How did you obtain your next previous position?

What did you like most about this position?

What did you like least about this position?

What were the main problems you face in this position?

What would you say with your greatest contribution in this position?

[The above questions may be repeated for your last 4 to 5 jobs]

Have you ever been sacked or asked to resign?

Why have you had so many jobs over the past few years?

Why did you leave each of them?

Have you ever been unemployed?

What were you doing during this period of unemployment ?

Do you have some examples of previous projects/achievements in past employment?

How many days have you been away from work in the last two years? [Except holidays]